Your 2019/20 Council Tax Guide - Including Water and Waste Water Service Charges - Falkirk Council
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Your 2019/20
Council Tax Guide
Including Water and Waste Water
Service Charges
AN
E FOR A'
1 1
My Falkirk
Save time,
do it online!
Sign Up for an Create your 'myaccount'
Online Account Now
Requesting and paying for With My Falkirk you can:
Council services is now easier Save forms for completion later
and more convenient, following
the launch of the My Falkirk Automatically populate forms
online account. with your details
Gain trusted access to council
It takes moments to sign up services that require evidence of
and allows you to register for a identity
whole range of services you can
access individually. Sign up at You can view your Council Tax
www.falkirk.gov.uk account online, including recent
payments and future instalments
My Falkirk allows you to request You can complete a range of
and receive services online using online Council Tax forms
your computer or smartphone, You can also use the Council’s
any day of the week, when it's website to access other services at
most convenient for you. any time of the day or night. You
don’t have to phone or wait in a
Registration and sign-in for queue.
your online customer account
is powered by the Scottish Make payments
Government's 'myaccount' service. Find your bin collection dates
It checks who you are and allows and download a calendar of bin
you to use a single account collections to your smartphone
to access a range of Scottish to remind yourself which bin to
public services online. put out for collection
Report missed bins or book a
bulky uplift
Report faults, such as street
lighting or potholes without
phoning or waiting in a queue
Apply for benefits
AN
E FOR A'
Report potholes and empty grit
bins and apply for parking
permits
www.falkirk.gov.uk Make a complaint
Council Tax Guide
How we work out Council Tax Council Tax Reduction
The Assessor, who works for the Central Who can apply for help?
Scotland Valuation Joint Board, values your The person(s) responsible for paying Council Tax.
home and puts it into one of eight valuation
bands from A to H. The value is based on how We need to know the details of the people living
much your home would have been worth on the in your household and details of all income,
open market on 1st April 1991. savings and state benefits you, your partner (if
you have one) and any non dependants living
Once we know how much money we need to with you, get.
raise from Council Tax, we work out what
someone living in a home in Band D would have If you have over £16,000 in savings, you will not
to pay. We then work out the rate for the other be entitled to help unless you receive the
bands by using the ‘multiplier’ set by the Scottish guaranteed part of Pension Credit. We ignore the
Government. first £6,000 of savings if you are under pension
age. For every £250 you have over that amount,
Who is responsible for paying Council Tax? we count £1 per week as income. If you are of
pension age, we ignore the first £10,000 of
The person highest on the list below is usually savings and we count £1 per week as income for
responsible for paying: every £500 over that.
the owner who lives in the property; Council Tax Reduction - Second Adult
the tenant who lives in the property; If you have another adult living in your home who
the sub-tenant who lives in the property; is on a low income and who is not your partner,
someone else who lives in the property; or you may receive help even if you do not qualify
the owner if nobody lives in the property. for main Council Tax Reduction.
Couples who are married, living together as man Any entitlement will be based on their income
and wife or civil partners are responsible, jointly and circumstances not your own. This may be up
and individually, for paying Council Tax even if to 25% of your Council Tax bill.
their names are not on the bill.
Council Tax Reduction - Band E-H
Joint owners or tenants are also responsible, Protection from the 1st April 2017 increase in
jointly and individually, for paying Council Tax. charges for those in Band E-H is available to
Note: ‘Jointly and individually’ means that the households with an average weekly income less
amount on the bill is not split into shares. We can than £479 (or less than £321 for single person
choose to collect the full amount from anyone households).
who is legally responsible for it. It is then up to If you claim Council Tax Reduction we will pay
the person who has to pay to get back a share the higher of the three available reductions. Your
from everyone else. entitlement will normally start from the Monday
Changes in your circumstances following the date you either first contacted us to
make an application, or the Monday following the
You must tell us about any change in your date we first received your application,
circumstances within 21 days of the change. An whichever is earlier. You cannot get help to pay
example would be where another adult moves your water and waste water charges.
into your home and you are receiving a Council
Tax discount. In most cases we are not able to backdate
Council Tax Reduction. Therefore, it is very
Help to pay your Council Tax important that you do not delay in making your
You may be entitled to help to pay depending on application.
your household income and circumstances. If you are not already getting help you can apply
Council Tax Reduction is help towards the online via www.falkirk.gov.uk/ctr, or phone
Council Tax bill for your home. Second Adult 01324 506999 for an application form.
Reduction is available if you have someone else
living with you, not a partner, who is not If Council Tax Reduction is awarded, or you
responsible for paying Council Tax and is based already receive it, it will be shown on your bill.
on their income and circumstances.
3
Council Tax Guide
Discounts Care Leavers
You will get a discount on your Council Tax if From 1st April 2018 Care Leavers can get an
you tell us only one person aged 18 or over is exemption from Council Tax, if they are the only
living in the property; or nobody is living in the adult (person over 18) in the property. Even if
property. When deciding how many adults live other adults are resident, Care Leavers may still
in a property, we do not count certain people. receive a discount. This applies until 26th
The most common examples of people we do birthday of Care Leaver. Contact 01324 506999,
not count are as follows: or revenues1@falkirk.gov.uk, for more
information.
full-time students, student nurses,
apprentices; How to apply for discounts, exemptions
people who have severe mental health and help for disabled customers
difficulties; You can apply for most reliefs online at
18 and 19 year olds who are at school, or who www.falkirk.gov.uk/request or telephone 01324
have just left school; 506999 for an application form.
unpaid care workers who care for someone Council Tax appeals
other than their partner, or a child aged under
18. You can appeal against either:
Exemptions 1. The amount of Council Tax you have to pay
You may get an exemption from Council Tax if because we have not awarded a discount or
certain conditions exist, for example: an exemption; or
2. Our decision that you are responsible for
if nobody is living in the property and there is paying Council Tax.
no furniture. The exemption lasts up to six
months from the date someone last lived in You must continue to pay your Council Tax until
the property; we have made a decision on your appeal. If
if everyone living in the property is a student; your appeal is successful, any subsequent
credit would be refunded (or offset against any
if the estate of a person who has died is other debt you owe Falkirk Council).
liable for paying Council Tax. This can last for
up to six months after the ‘Grant of If you want to appeal, please write to Council
Confirmation’ (legal proof that a person has Tax Appeals, Falkirk Council, Municipal
permission to manage the estate); or Buildings, Falkirk FK1 5RS within two months of
if the property is not being lived in as it is the date of the decision.
undergoing major repair work to make it If you remain dissatisfied with the response, or
habitable or structural alterations. The you do not receive a response within two months,
exemption lasts up to twelve months from the if your appeal is against reason 1 or 2, you have
date someone last lived in the property. the right of appeal to the Valuation Appeal
Long-Term empty properties Committee (VAC) which is an independent body
who will consider the facts and give a ruling as to
If you have a property that has been whether or not our decision is correct. Your
unoccupied for over 12 months you may be request to appeal to the VAC should be made to
charged 200% council tax. the above address within four months of the date
There are certain protections from this, (e.g. if of your original appeal.
your property is being marketed for sale or rent,
the additional charge would not apply until after Private landlords
24 months). If you rent out property, either direct or through
an agent, you are still responsible for providing us
Help for disabled customers with information about the tenants who live in
You could pay less Council Tax if a disabled your properties. If someone else leases out your
person lives in the property and needs: properties on your behalf, you must tell them to
keep us up to date with any tenancy changes.
an extra room to meet their needs; or
an extra bathroom to meet their needs; or To allow us to decide who is responsible for
paying Council Tax, you must confirm the
to use a wheelchair in the home. following details, in writing, as soon as possible
If this is the case we will charge you the after there has been a change to a tenancy:
Council Tax for the band below your actual
property band. A reduction is also available for the address of the property (including the flat
Band A property. number);
4
the names of all tenants who are moving out of
the property;
the date the lease ends;
the tenants’ new addresses, if you know these;
the names of all tenants who are moving into
the property;
the date the new lease starts;
the previous addresses of all new tenants, if
you have these details; and
confirmation of whether the property is let as
furnished or unfurnished.
We may also need a copy of any lease. If we do,
we will contact you. The owner will be
responsible for Council Tax between tenancies.
Council Tax and Combined Water & Waste
Water charges 2019/20
Value of Combined
property Council Water &
Band Total
(at Tax Waste
1/4/1991) Water
Up to
A £779.33 £296.16 £1,075.49
£27,000
Appeals against Council Tax bands
£27,001 to £909.22 If you became the taxpayer within the last 6
B £345.52 £1,254.74
£35,000 months, you can appeal against your Council Tax
band to the Assessor.
£35,001 to £1,039.11
C £394.88 £1,433.99 However, if you do so, you must continue to pay
£45,000
your Council Tax until the Assessor has made a
decision on your appeal.
£45,001 to £1,169.00
D £444.24 £1,613.24
£58,000 Contact The Assessor for Central Scotland
Laurelhill, Stirling FK8 2NA Tel: 01786 892200
£58,001 to £1,535.94 If your appeal is successful, we will refund any
E £542.96 £2,078.90
£80,000 overpaid Council Tax to you or, if you owe any
other outstanding debt to Falkirk Council, transfer
£80,001 to £1,899.63 it to reduce that debt.
F £641.68 £2,541.31
£106,000
Ways to pay your Council Tax
£160,001
G to £2,289.29 £740.40 £3,029.69 Direct Debit
£212,000 If you have a bank/building society current
account you can pay by Direct Debit.
over
H £212,000 £2,864.05 £888.48 £3,752.53 We always tell you how much your payments are
going to be, and it’s guaranteed against mistakes.
Choose to pay weekly, fortnightly, four weekly or
monthly on a date to suit you.
You can set this up online at
www.falkirk.gov.uk/howcounciltax
If you can’t pay by Direct Debit, you can find
other ways to pay on that page too.
5
The Direct Debit Guarantee
This Guarantee is offered by all banks and
building societies that accept instructions to pay
direct debits.
If there are any changes to the amount, date or
frequency of your direct debit, Falkirk Council will
notify you 5 working days in advance of your
account being debited, or as otherwise agreed.
Go Paper Free for Bills!
If you request Falkirk Council to collect a We now offer paper free Council Tax billing
payment, confirmation of the amount and date
will be given to you at the time of the request. Helps us save on postage, as we don’t need to
send you paper bills
If an error is made in the payment of your direct
debit by Falkirk Council, or your bank or building Instead we’ll email you to let you know what
society, you are entitled to a full and immediate the key bill details are, like your new balance
refund of the amount paid from your bank or and instalments
building society. Your personal data is still protected
If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, You’ll still be able to view your balance and
you must pay it back when Falkirk Council asks account details online at any time by adding
you to. your Council Tax account to your My Falkirk
account
You can cancel a direct debit at any time by Fill in the quick form at www.falkirk.gov.uk/ectax
simply contacting your bank or building society.
Written confirmation may be required. Please
also notify us.
Online at www.falkirk.gov.uk/pay
You can use this facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. When making your payment, you will need
to have your Council Tax account number. We
will credit the payment to your account next
working day (for payments made before 8pm).
Telephone
Call 01324 506070 - Mon-Fri, 8am-8:30pm except
public holidays. Please have your Council Tax
account number ready when you call. We will
credit the payment to your account the next
working day.
One Stop Shop
By cash, cheque, postal order or debit / credit
card. Your payment will be credited to your
account the next working day.
UK Post Office or Paypoint Outlet
You will need one of our payment cards.
Payments can take up to 3 working days to be
credited to your account.
If you lose your payment card, contact your local
office and we will issue you with a replacement
card within 10 working days.
6
Council Tax Guide
Missed or late payments How you can help us tackle fraud
We must receive your Council Tax payment on People who claim financial help that they are
or before the payment date shown on your not entitled to cost you money. They reduce the
demand notice. amount of money or services that are available
to help those in need. If you think someone is
If we don’t, we will ask you to make the missed claiming Housing Benefit or any other
payment (known as arrears) within seven days. Department for Working Pensions (DWP)
If you do not do this, you will lose your right to benefit they are not entitled to please contact
pay by instalments after another seven days. the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854
4400. Your call is free and confidential and you
If not paid, the amount you owe for the rest of don't need to give your name or address. Lines
the year will then be due immediately and we are open Monday to Friday 08.00am to 6.00pm
will apply to the Sheriff Court for a ‘summary or report it online at www.gov.uk/report-benefit-
warrant’, which allows us to collect the tax you fraud.
owe us. At this stage, we will add costs of 10%
of the amount you owe. If you suspect someone is committing Tenancy
Fraud or you know someone is claiming a
If you are finding it difficult to pay your bills, the Council Tax discount/exemption or Council Tax
earlier you contact us or an advice agency, the Reduction that they are not entitled to please
better. You should establish what you are able email the Corporate Fraud Team at
to pay, before making a formal agreement. corporate.fraud@falkirk.gov.uk, call 01324
504500, or post to Corporate Fraud at Falkirk
We have professional debt advice officers who Municipal Buildings.
can provide free, confidential, impartial and
independent advice and support on 01324 Energy Efficiency
506735 or www.falkirk.gov.uk/moneyadvice
Home Energy Scotland from the Scottish
The Citizens Advice Bureaux also provide free Government is a source of free and impartial
and independent advice on a wide range of advice on how to make your home cheaper to
subjects. heat. Advice and support provided includes
information on government schemes and
If you do not pay, you may end up having: funding available for energy efficiency
money taken from your wages improvements such as new insulation or a
your bank account ‘frozen’, and the funds replacement boiler. Whether you rent or own
owed withdrawn from your account; or your home, call Home Energy Scotland free on
money taken from your Income Support, 0808 808 2282 to save money on your energy
Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit. bills.
Privacy Notice Comments/Complaints
Falkirk Council is the data controller of your We aim to provide a high standard of customer
personal data used in the assessment, service. If you have a comment or suggestion,
administration and collection of Council Tax. please complete a comments form or visit
This is a requirement under the Local www.falkirk.gov.uk/contact-us
Government Finance Act 1992.
If you are unhappy with the service we provide,
We have a duty to protect public funds. Details please complete a complaints form or visit
are checked within the Council for the www.falkirk.gov.uk/contact-us
prevention of fraud and verification purposes.
Information may be shared with other public More information
bodies where the Council is required or If you would like this information in another
permitted to do so by law. language, braille, large print or audio tape
You have the right to request access to your please contact one of our local offices.
personal data and other data protection rights.
Further details of your rights (and our full
privacy notice) may be obtained from our
website at www.falkirk.gov.uk/privacy or email
us at data.protection@falkirk.gov.uk
7Council Tax Guide
2019/20 Summary Revenue Budget
Change from
2019/20 previous year
£'000 £'000 %
Total Gross Expenditure 386,845 15,784 4.25
Less: Fees and Charges 30,856 (9) (0.03)
Total Net Expenditure 355,989 15,793 4.64
2019/20 Change from previous Effect on
2019/20 2019/20
Net Expenditure Band D
Net Capital Total Net
Allocated by Service year Council
Expenditure Charges Expenditure Tax
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 % £
Children's Services 206,937 - 206,937 14,659 7.62 679.54
Social Work Adult Services 6,358 - 6,358 1,276 25.11 20.88
Development Services 27,629 - 27,629 (1,092) (3.80) 90.73
Corporate and Housing Services 25,469 292 25,761 480 1.90 84.59
Falkirk Community Trust 10,793 - 10,793 2 0.02 35.44
Integration Joint Board 63,322 - 63,322 2,901 4.80 207.94
Joint Valuation Board 1,257 - 1,257 12 0.96 4.13
Capital Financed from Current - - - - - -
Revenue
Capital Charges (1) - 13,932 13,932 (2,445) (14.93) 45.75
TOTAL 341,765 14,224 355,989 15,793 4.64 1,169.00
1. Net difference between the cost of capital used by Services and the debt repayments on this capital.
FINANCED BY: £'000
Government Grants 218,696
Non-Domestic Rates 69,739
Reserves Used 950
Amount to be met by Council Tax 66,604
Yield of £1 Band D Council Tax £56.98
Band D Council Tax Present Year (2019/20) £1,169
Band D Council Tax Previous Year (2018/19) £1,135
Scottish Average Band D Council Tax 2018/19 £1,208
(Notional Scottish Government figure excl. Water Charges)
Local Authority Employees 2018/19 2019/20 Change
(Budgeted full-time equivalent) 5,954 5,843 -111
8How your money is spent After taking account of Scottish Government
The money we need to spend to provide grants, National Non-Domestic Rates and other
services is set out in our yearly 'revenue sources of funding, we raise the rest of the
budget'. This budget relates to all services money we need from Council Tax, which will
except housing, which is funded entirely from fund 18.71% of our spending.
money we receive from rent. The Council Tax for a house valued at Band D
Gross spending is total spending. Net spending will be £1,169 in the financial year 2019/20. For
is spending less fees and charges. details of the Council Tax charge for the other
valuation bands go to page 5.
Spending on our services The table inside shows how the 2019/20 Council
The Scottish Government's assessment of the Tax has been calculated and how the Council
spending need for Falkirk Council is £4,439 for intends to finance its expenditure. The
every house. The Council's proposed spending estimated net expenditure for each Service is
amounts to £4,678 per house. also shown.
Council Budget 2019/20 The chart below shows where our main areas
Our budget has been set at £355.9m which of spending will be during 2019/20.
includes ring fenced grants of £15.9m.
The money comes from a number of sources, Total Net Expenditure per Service
the most important of which is grants from
Scottish Government. The chart below shows
the various sources of the funding we will
receive.
Sources of Funding
Children’s Services 58.13%
Social Work Adult Services 1.79%
Development Services 7.76%
Corporate and Housing Services 7.24%
Falkirk Community Trust 3.03%
Integration Joint Board 17.79%
Government Grants 61.43%
Joint Valuation Board 0.35%
Non-Domestic Rates 19.59%
Capital Financed from Current Revenue 0.00%
Council Tax 18.71%
Capital Charges 3.91%
Reserves 0.27%
9Water and waste water services Scottish Water maintains and is
charges improving 242 water treatment works
and 30,246 miles of pipes that deliver
Your Council Tax bill includes the charges
1.38 billion litres of clear, fresh drinking
for your water supply and sewerage
water every day, so it’s there day or night
(waste water collection) services from
when you turn on the taps. The company
Scottish Water, even if you receive
maintains and is improving 1,826 waste
Council Tax Reduction. The charges are
water treatment works and 32,940 miles
based on the Council Tax Band for your
of sewers to take away 929 million litres
home (see page 5) and apply to every
of waste water and help protect the
household which has a connection to the
natural environment. Finally, on average
public water supply, the public waste
Scottish Water carries out 1 quality test
water network, or both.
every 2 minutes^ to make sure that you
Falkirk Council bills and collects these enjoy your supply of Scottish drinking
charges on behalf of Scottish Water water – you get all this for around £1 a
and details of how to pay can be day for the average household*.
found on your Council Tax bill.
^ This is based on 2017 figures, the most
To help Scottish Water make sure that up to date figures available at time of
they can continue to provide you with at going to print.
least the same high levels of service that
* The average household is between
you currently receive, in 2019/20 the
Council Tax Band B and Band C and has a
Combined Services charge for the
combined bill of around £1 a day.
average household will rise by around £6
Individual Water Supply and Waste Water
from the amount last year. At £369, the
Collection charges are less than £1 a day
average Scottish Water bill will still stay
for all households (except for the
lower than the average bill in England
individual Waste Water Collection
and Wales.
charges for Band G households and the
Each year Scottish Water invests every individual Water Supply and Waste Water
penny collected through customer Collection charges for Band H
charges to run and improve your water households).
and waste water services. They work 24
Scottish Water always aim to deliver on
hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure
their promises and are always looking at
you have a high quality supply of clear,
how they can improve the service and
fresh drinking water to your home, and
the value that they provide. It is
to help protect the natural environment in
important that they aim to provide you
your area. The quality of drinking water in
with a great customer experience, and
Scotland remains at very high levels, and
that when they say they will do
Scottish Water works to keep the water
something, they will do it.
cycle running and deliver these essential
services to you in an affordable and
sustainable way.
10Scottish Water wants you to be aware of For 2019/20, the Combined Services
their promises and your rights under their charge will rise by 1.6% from what you
service standards. To find out more, visit paid last year. The table below tells you
scottishwater.co.uk/yourrights what your charges are from 1 April 2019
to 31 March 2020.
Your water, your life
Water is vital to our daily lives. From Waste Combined
topping up from the tap to drink it and Council Tax Water Water
Band Supply
stay refreshed, to cooking, cleaning or Collection Services
flushing, we use it virtually every
A £137.04 £159.12 £296.16
moment, every day.
It’s a precious resource and Scottish B £159.88 £185.64 £345.52
Water are trusted to care for the water C £182.72 £212.16 £394.88
on which Scotland depends. But you
can also play a part. There are lots of D £205.56 £238.68 £444.24
simple, effective things we can all do in
terms of how we use water which can E £251.24 £291.72 £542.96
help have a positive effect on our lives
and our communities: F £296.92 £344.76 £641.68
• Top up from the tap – use a refillable G £342.60 £397.80 £740.40
bottle and enjoy Scotland’s great-tasting
water fresh from the tap. It’s good for
you, your pocket and the environment; H £411.12 £477.36 £888.48
• Don’t flush wipes and other bathroom
waste items that should be put in the bin,
and recycle or put all cooled fat, oil and Your water and waste water charges
grease in the bin, not down the sink*;
and are shown on your Council Tax bill,
• Use water wisely around the home, even if you receive a Council Tax
whatever the weather. Reduction. Some Council Tax
To find out more, visit exemptions and discounts will also
scottishwater.co.uk apply to these charges, such as
single occupancy or if you are a
* Please check local Council/waste student.
contractor information on how to
recycle or dispose of used fat, oil and Important: If you receive Council Tax
grease in your area. Reduction you must still pay a water
and waste water charge for the
The Water Industry Commission for services you have at your home.
Scotland is the economic regulator of However you will receive a reduction
the water industry in Scotland, and of up to 25% on the charges shown
approves Scottish Water’s charges. in the table above.
11If the property has been altered to
meet the needs of a disabled person,
you may be entitled to a Disabled
Banding Reduction on the charges you
pay for your property. If you have a
disability, medical condition or other
reason where you may need additional
assistance from Scottish Water, please
contact them and your details will be
added to their confidential Additional
Support Register.
To find out more about Scottish Water,
their charges, their customer charter
and keep up to date with what they are
doing in your area:
Visit scottishwater.co.uk;
Follow facebook.com/scottishwater
@scottish_water
Email help@scottishwater.co.uk; or
Call 0800 0778778
Scottish Water Customer Helpline -
free 24/7
You can keep up to date about Scottish
Water work or service updates, such as
no water supply, in your area:
All information is correct at time of print: March 2019
Visit: scottishwater.co.uk/updates
Text (SMS): If you would like to receive
free texts (SMS)** please text the word
‘Update’ with your postcode to 82228
(For example text: Update EH10 6XH).
**For more info and T&Cs visit
scottishwater.co.uk/textterms
12You can also read
